by Meaghen Richens

Maker Faires are a global event, providing those with a passion for DIY projects and open source technology a venue to showcase what an individual can do if they have the right tools. Ottawa’s most recent Maker Faire ran from Oct. 15 to 16 at the Aberdeen Pavilion.

In 2010, the first Canadian Mini Maker Faire — a much smaller scale version of the current event — was held at the Ottawa Arts Court, before growing into the first Canadian Feature Faire in 2015.

Gene Shershen, president of the Inventors Association of Ottawa, attended the Ottawa Maker Faire this year and the last. “It’s a good event,” said Shershen. “It’s a place where kids can get excited about technology.”

Paul Elter, a veteran maker from TinCan Photography, was also in attendance.

“I’m here with my truck, I call it Tin Can, which is… an ultra large scale wet plate camera and mobile darkroom.”

Wet plate is a type of photography invented in 1850. It’s called wet plate because you have to coat the plate, sensitize it, expose it to light and develop it before it dries out, Elter explained.

“And so it was the basis of silver gelatin and film photography that we still have to this day,” Elter said.

Also present, representing Studio la Mouche — a local collective that works to create art that is financially accessible for both the artist and the audience — was Geneviève Bétournay.

“I represent a bunch of different Ottawa artists, and I sell their work in different formats,” said Bétournay. Working with different venues across the city, Studio la Mouche sells art as prints, stickers, t-shirts and sketchbooks.  

Bétournay also went on to say that they plan to open a space in January which will be a hub for artists, creators and makers.

Link Tong — owner of Roses without Thorns, a laser cut, pop-up greeting card business — got involved with this year’s Maker Faire after participating in a Toronto faire in 2015.

“When we have an idea of making something, we draw it on paper and have 3D graphic designers make the template for a laser cut machine. Then all the pieces are assembled by hand,” said Tong.

His business started out as a hobby back in 2004 while he lived in Vietnam, before he came to Canada.

“We’re excited because we’re still pretty new in Canada,” Tong said.

Elter said visitors’ response to his project has also been overwhelmingly positive.

“People flip out,” Elter said. “I’ve children that were four and five that would stand and listen to my spiel and wait to see me do stuff, they’d hang around for 45 minutes which is pretty remarkable. So it’s been really, really good.”

Bétournay agrees.

“This is probably the favourite event of the year for me to participate in because all the other makers have excellent energy,” she said.

“Everybody is passionate about what they do, they’re very driven, and they’re just very positive. Kids are excited so the parents are happy, it’s a really good atmosphere to be in.”

This article was first published in the Leveller Vol. 9, No. 3